Expert fails to link Kazinda to forgery

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Wednesday, 06 March 2013 01:29

Written by DERRICK KIYONGA

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A handwriting expert has all but cleared the former principal accountant in the office of the Prime Minister (OPM), Geoffrey Kazinda of forgery charges.

Samuel Ezatti, an expert from the government analytical laboratory, told court that while it was true the OPM Permanent Secretary Pius Bigirimana’s signature was forged, there was nothing linking the forgery to Kazinda. Kazinda, 43, is facing 29 counts of forgery of Bank of Uganda security papers, cash withdraw forms, causing financial loss, embezzlement and forging the signature of Pius Bigirimana, the OPM Permanent Secretary. His case is before Justice David Wangutusi.

Ezatti, 55, added that when he compared Bigirimana’s original signatures with those on the computer generated letters that the prosecution claims Kazinda forged, he realized fundamental differences. During cross examination by Kazinda’s lawyers MacDosman Kabega asked Ezatti to explain the link to the accountant.

“First I was not told by the Investigative Officer (IO) to find out who forged and another thing it’s very hard to establish who forged,” Ezatti countered.

However, Ezatti also told court that Kazinda’s signatures on the original computer generated letters, used to withdraw money from the central bank, were genuine.

“The similarities were in letter construction, pen movement, punctuation, design of figures and use of abbreviations, “he explained.

Prosecution will today close its case by presenting three more witness, including two investigative officers.

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